New Mexico

SANTA FE — The New Mexico State Police will again be participating in the nationwide "Interstate 40 Challenge Drive to Zero Fatalities" traffic safety initiative during the Thanksgiving holiday.

This safety initiative will consist of increased patrol presence conducted by agencies along the Interstate 40 corridor nationwide. Participating agencies include the New Mexico State Police and the state police and highway patrol agencies from California, Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Tennessee.

State law enforcement agencies in each of the eight states will be conducting high intensity traffic operations on the busiest travel days of the Thanksgiving holiday, specifically Wednesday, Nov. 23 and Sunday, Nov. 27.

The I-40 corridor is a major commuter roadway within the United States, totaling 2,555 miles — 376 miles of which are encompassed within the state of New Mexico. Because the Thanksgiving holiday is one of the busiest travel periods of the year, it is the goal of the New Mexico State Police and the other participating agencies that a strong law enforcement presence will have a direct effect on the driving behaviors of the motorists during the Thanksgiving holiday, and, thus, reduce the number of crashes and increase motorist safety.

The New Mexico State Police strongly encourages drivers to obey the speed limits; not drive distracted, in an aggressive or reckless manner; wear seat belts; and, most importantly, not to drive impaired.

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